Outlander (by Diana Gabaldon)

As I have mentioned before, my mom is a lover of books that come in "series". Her bookshelves at home are lined with series - murder, mystery, romance, witches, if its a series, she owns it. Which, I have to say, benefits me also, especially if I want to start reading the series, because she has all the books already. Good for the pocketbook. Well - two years ago (or thereabouts) when I went home for some holiday, she bestowed upon me the Outlander series, and said, and I quote "you will no be disappointed." Hesitant to get wrapped up in a series of books with each book at a meager 800 pages each, I put it on my bookshelf and didn't look back. That was until last month, when after reading "In cold blood" I needed a fast/lighthearted read. Something to take my mind of the reality of civilization. So why not read about a time travelling nurse in the 1940s? I opened the first book of the series - "Outlander" and began my journey. Oh My Gosh. I quickly realized how ADDICTING this book was. I would think about it at work, and be excited to get home to read it at the end of the day. We aren't talking a literary masterpiece here, but it is damn good. It has all the makings of the perfect chick book - love, time travel, romance, scottish warriors, love, romance, ... love, romance... you get the point. Basically, the book is about a main character - Claire Randall aka Claire Beauchamp. She is visiting Scotland with her hubby in 1940s (after WWII) - Frank Randall - and while on a hike to look at some rocks, she gets hurled back into the 1700s, in Scotland. She gets swept up in the life and times and love of the 1740s and basically the book follows her story from that point on. Its a guilty pleasure to read this book, and luckily for me there are 7 more books in this series to carry me onward. I just started the second book - Dragonfly in Amber, and it is not disappointing either (and it is also 800+ pages). I recommend this book if you are looking for an easy, entertaining, and addicting read. It won't take you long to power through the 800 pages, and it will definitely leaving you wanting more at then end, and luckily there is more!

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake (by Aimee Bender)

I read this book a few weeks back, on recommend from one of my besties. I liked it. I didn't loveee it. But I liked it. This book concerns a girl, who ate the age of 9, realizes that she can feel the emotions of the person who made the food she is eating when she eats the food they made (got that?). She quickly realizes how sad her mom is, despite her mom's peppy exterior. The book then chronicles her teenage years having to learn to deal with the ability to tell what someone is really feeling inside. There are some relationships thrown in there, as well as some heartbreak. If anything, this book made me think about what its like to "mask" your emotions if you will. How often do we do that? Pretend to be happy when we are crying inside? Or pretend to love something when in fact you hate it? I would have loveed this book if there hadn't been this weird, unexplained thing with the brother, I didn't feel like there was an adequate explanation. But I'll let you be the judge. I recommend it if you don't mind reading about super human powers, and are able to suspend reality for about 300 pages.

Up next: Commencement (by J. Courtney Sullivan) - already finished this, currently reading The Likeness (by Tana French)